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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 9th, 2019–Jan 10th, 2019

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Coast.

Snow, wind, and rising freezing levels are creating storm slabs in higher elevations areas where dry snow has fallen.

Confidence

Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain

Weather Forecast

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Rain, 10-30 mm. Strong south-southwest wind. Freezing level 1500 m.THURSDAY: Showers and slush, 5-20 mm rain with 10 cm snow falling above 1700 m. Moderate south-southwest wind. Freezing level 1700 m.FRIDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods. Light to moderate southeast wind. Freezing level above 2000 m.SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, chance of showers. Moderate variable wind. Freezing above 2000 m.More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported. Please submit any observations you have to the Mountain Information Network here.

Snowpack Summary

Above 1700 m, up to 30 cm recent snow is being redistributed by wind and forming cornices. Another 10 cm may accumulate by Thursday morning in alpine terrain in the north of the region. Below 1500 m, rain has saturated the snowpack.New snow is expected to create storm slabs in the alpine. At lower elevations, warming temperatures and rain on snow can rapidly lead to loose wet avalanches. At alpine and treeline elevations in the north of the region, 70-100 cm recent storm snow is slowly settling. Recent snowpack tests around treeline indicated some storm snow instabilities. Below the recent storm snow, a melt freeze crust exists, with associated facets (sugar snow) in some areas. Further south on the North Shore mountains, around 10 cm snow overlies a crust.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.